What started World War II?

Posted 13May2017.

One could easily go to Wikipedia to find the answer, but here is my take: ego.

Throughout all of history, man has found new and inventive ways to satisfy the need/desire to impose their own perception of reality upon others and beat it over the heads of anyone who opposes those perceptions.

As I have studied history, both for academic credit and because “it’s 3am and I should really be going to bed,” I have noticed that the words of the character “The Merovingian” from 2003’s The Matrix Reloaded comes to mind:

You see there is only one constant. One universal. It is the only real truth. Causality. Action, reaction. Cause and effect.

Cause and effect. These words take root in understanding much about why the Second World War happened – it was the “effect” of the First World War and the economic and social ruin Germany found itself in… which was the effect of the alliances responsible for that war… which was the effect of Napoleonic Wars… etcetera… ad nauseum…

What actually started the Second World War? Germanic ego – the wounded pride of the results of the First World War, and the desire to restore pride… huh, that ego thing again… and trade impotency for importance. Or perhaps it was Second Polish Republic’s pride and desire to prevent another division of their territory. Possibly even French pride to prevent another military and economic disaster.

For me, the start of one conflict is always rooted in a previous one… and the egos that are involved.

Cause and effect.